Throwback: UFC offers NFL's Indianapolis Colts a light heavyweight champion to train their defense
The Indianapolis Colts were once offered the then UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones to train their defensive players. The initial offer from the UFC only mentioned fighters if the Colts were interested in any.
The NFL franchise mentioned Jones, noting that the UFC fighter's older brother Arthur was in their team. The UFC wrote:
"@Colts let us know if they want us to set them up with some #UFC fighters to start training 💪👊"
@Colts let us know if they want us to set them up with some #UFC fighters to start training 💪👊
The NFL team replied:
"@ufc we do have family ties. Surely @Artj97 [Arthur Jones] would approve of @JonnyBones [Jon Jones] teaching them a few things."
@ufc we do have family ties. Surely @Artj97 would approve of @JonnyBones teaching them a few things.
Tagging 'Bones' and Arthur Jones, the UFC responded:
"@Colts Can't get any better than a UFC champion in your corner! cc @Artj97 @JonnyBones"
@Colts Can't get any better than a UFC champion in your corner! cc @Artj97 @JonnyBones
It all started with playful banter between the then Indianapolis veteran receiver Reggie Wayne and head coach Chuck Pagano. Wayne and Pagano were teasing a fight against each other back in 2014, which led to the UFC being tagged in a tweet.
Coach Pagano & Reggie heading to @UFC? Not quite, but some smack talk at #ColtsCamp.
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Former Indianapolis Colts' defensive end Arthur Jones was contemplating a move to MMA in 2011
The NFL was in a lockout from March 12, 2011, to July 25, 2011, as its team owners and players could not come to a consensus regarding issues pertaining to the salary cap, healthcare, revenue share, etc.
Jon Jones' brother Arthur was playing with the Baltimore Ravens when the work stoppage occurred. Having wrestled during his school and college years, the former Syracuse defender started contemplating a move to MMA like his younger brother. The older Jones even claims to have started preparing for his MMA debut before the lockout came to an end. Arthur Jones said in a previous interview with the Indianapolis star:
"I love MMA. It’s fun to watch, and it’s something I entertained early in my football career if football didn’t work out, of me fighting in the UFC. But things are going well for me right now, so I’m going to stick with my career." [h/t MMA Junkie]
“I was supposed to take a fight when we had the lockout a few years ago. I was getting ready to schedule it, and I was training for it. Thank God for the other guy the lockout ended.”
Colts' Arthur Jones, brother of UFC champ Jon Jones, wanted to try MMA during the 2011 lockout wp.me/p14QSB-9tgG